Means for supporting sucker-rod and pump lines



J. C. STOKES Jan. 7, 1 930.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCKER ROD AND PUMP LINES Filed NOV. 8, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet JEH-m. E.. E mke Jan. 7, 1930.v 1 C; STOKES 1,742,940

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCKER ROD AND PUMP LINES Filed Nov. 8, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, l 930.

c. sToKEs 1,742,940

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCKER ROD AND PUMP LINES WE/@HTW Filed Nov. y8. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jahn EL. E b21 atto: unf

45 as several inches,

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PATIENT OFFICE JOHN C. sfroxns, or HousroN, 'rms MEANS FOB SUPPORTING STICKER-BOD LND PUMP LINES Application mea November a, 1927. serial No. 231,907.

This invention relates to improvements in means orsupporting sucker rod and pumplines of oil well pumping equipment and thev like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical, and eiiicient means for relieving the weight of a long string of sucker rods, .incident to deep well pumping, so that the sucker rods'and their connections Vare not subject to extreme strains,

and for the purpose of relieving the operating mechanism.

In the pumping of oil from deep oil wells, overstressing of sucker rods and the failure thereof, and injury to the operating mechanismare common occurrences. It is fundamentally known that sucker rods of deep well pumping equipment are subjected to comined static and dynamic loads. The static load results from the downward pressure of the columnof oil in the tubing above the pump plunger plus the dead weight of the rods themselves. The dynamic load is equivaf lent to the force necessary to overcome the inertia of the long" column of oil and rods that must be 4accelerated from a position of restwithI each upstroke ofthe pump to a speed consistent with the operation re uired.

lIn order to relieve the sucker rods an their .f connections of some of the weight, I propose to provide means for resiliently supporting the sucker rod line at a plurality of points, at diiferent elevations in the tubing, to provide a distributed support for the long string of pumping equipment. For instance,

in a well 5000 feet deep a string of sucker rods weighing 1.6 pounds per foot places a strain of about 8000 pounds on the top joints of the lsucker rods, plus the weight of the column of fluid. This weight plusthe lweight of the olumn of Huid places a very great strain on' the rods and connections during the pumping operation, and it is well known that in very deep wells the rod line will elongate as much which' of course detracts from the effective pump stroke of the plunger equipment of the well. In overcoming these disadvantages I provide spring supports-for the sucker rod .line at 'dilerent elevations throughout the length ois-the tubing, in such a relation that the string ofsucker rods, and

in some instances also the su porting springs may be withdrawn from the tubing. 4 The arrangement is such thatwithout lolSS and liability of disarrangement of parts the sucker rod line may be lowered int'o the tubing and the spring supporting means properly locked and applied in place at different elevations in the tubing for the purpose of re lieving sucker rod weight therebelow;

Other objects. and advantages of the in'- vention will of course be apparent through'-` `out the detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of the invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical fragmentary sec tional view of pump tubing, its reciprocating sucker rod pump line, and the spring means at different elevations in theptu'bing.

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure@ is a'side elevation of a spriigfcap or collar of one of the sucker rod supporting spring arrangements. p

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a spring guide member.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the member of F' ure 5.

igure 7 is a verticalv sectional fragmentary view of a modified' form of the mvention, differing principally over theA illustra- 10 are transverse Isectional Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on Vthe line 1'1-11 of Figure 8.

. ure 12.

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form of the invention, close-- ly resembling the form of invention'illustrated in Figures 12 and 1.3, but principally differing therefrom in the provision of spring operated pawls or dogs to automatically lock the sucker rod supporting spring arrangements at the different elevations in the tubing. Q

Figures 15 and 16 are transverse sectional Views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 14 of the drawings.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the pawlireceiving coupling of the tubing and showing the inside elevation of the pawl carrying member shown in the lower portion of the left hand part of Figure 14.

' In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, the letters A, B, C and D may designate the various forms of the invention as illustrated. 1n the preferred form of invention A the letter D may designate the tubing ordinarily placed in the well casing, wherein the sucker rod or pump line E is reciprocably disposed, the saine having a pump plunger F at the lower end thereof operable in any approved working barrel G. As a novel feature of the invention spring supporting devices H are provided at different elevations throughout the length of the tubing D. The tubing line D may include the ordinary tubing sections 20 connected in comi municating alignment with the spring barrel portions 21 by upper tubing coupling lsections 22 and lower tube coupling sections 23, as clearly shown in Figure 1. In this arrangement `of parts the tubing line D provides a passageway wherein-the pump line E reciprocates, as conventionally known.

The 'spring' barrel portions 21 of the tubing line lmay be slightly enlarged to provide a greater internal diameter than through the normal tubing sections 20.

The lower coupling sections 23, which connect the spring barrels 21 at their lower ends to the tubing sections or the working barrel, as the case may be, are provided with annular shoulders 26 therein facing upwardly into the passageways 27 through the spring barrels 21, on which the lower ends of the spring proe arrangements H rest, as will more fully appear hereinafter.

The sucker rod oi' pump 4line E includes the conventional sucker rod sections 30, the lowermost of which supports the plunger equipment F, of conventional formation. In

the spring barrels 21 the sucker iod sections 30 are connected by special sections 33, each of which is provided with an annular enlargement or shoulder 34. in the upper end of the spring barrel 2,1. These annular shoulders 34 are of such size that they may be freely7 drawn through the line of tubing. when the sucker rod line is being withdrawn.' However', the shoulders 34 are not all of the same size, but vary in size. from the upper end of the sucker rod line, where the enlargements 34 are of greatest. diameter or width, to the lower end of the sucker rod line where the said enlargements 34 are of least width or diameter; the enlargements 34 being graduated with a decreasing width from the upper end of the sucker rod line downwardly,

' for a purpose which will be hereinafter disclosed.

The spring arrangements H are of the same general construction. Inasinuch as they are formed in a practical manner to take a relatively long stroke of the sucker rod line, it is preferred that the saine will comprise upper and lower spiral springs 40 and '41, having their proximate ends seated on a tubular spring guide member 42 through which the sucker rod connecting sections 33 freely reciprocates; the guide or spring guide 42 having an annular shoulder 44 formed of lugs 46?, against which the proximate ends of the springs 40 and 41 engage, as is shown for each of the spring arrangements H in Figure `1 of the drawings. The lower end of the spring 41 seats on the shoulder 26, and the upper end of the upper spring 40 supports 'a cap or head 45 of sleeve formation. The passageways 47 through the sleeve heads 45 are formedin a gradually decreasing diameter from the upper spring head 45 to the lowermost spring -head 45, so that only the respective sucker rod enlargements or shoulders 34 will seat thereon, and so that all of the sucker rod enlargements 34 below the desired one will pass through the passageways 47. Vith this construction it is perfectly apparent that the.

sucker rod line may be withdrawn through the various spring devices H, of which the spring heads 45 are a part, but insuring that the sucker rod line when lowering will seat at the proper place upon the respective spring head or c'ap 45, as shown in Figure 1 of the' drawings. The lowermost spring head 45 shown'inkFigure 1, has a passageway 47 which will permit withdrawal of the lower part of the sucker rod and plunger through the same, and the lowermost enlargement 34 may be drawn readily through all the passageways 47 of the spring heads Ior sleeves 45 thereabove. The various shoulders and seats of the sleeves and spring heads of the parts shown in Figure 1 may be beveled to permit the ready seating and. withdrawal of the sucker rod line with respect thereto, without hanging obstruction.

The lugs 46a permit passage of the medium being pumped through the tubing, and for the same purpose the spring caps or heads are vertically grooved at 50, as'shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, andalso in Figures 3 and 4.

As to the form of invention illustrated in Figures 7 to ll inclusive, the same includes many of the features of the preferred form of invention A, and in so far as applicable similar numerals refer to corresponding parts in the forms of invention A and B, except as noted hereinafter.

In the form of invention B the sucker rod line E has the sucker rod sections 30a connected by special lengths 33, in the spring barrels 21. These special lengths 33Il are of course part of the pumping line, and each of Y the same intermediate its ends may be enlarged, and through the enlargement is provided a transverse slot or opening wherein a pawl 56 is pivotally mounted, at its upper end, on a pivot pin 57. A spring 58 normally engages against the pawl or dog 56 below its pivot pin 57 to urge the lower end of the dog transversely through the slot 55, as is shown in Figure 7 in a plurality of places.

The spring arrangements H' of the modified form ofinvention B are exactly the same las the' spring arrangement H above described for the preferred form of invention A, except that in place of the spring caps 45 I provide relatively long spring caps or sleeves 60 which rest on the top of the upper springs 40 of each of the springdevices H. These spring caps 60 are provided with annular recesses 62 facing the passageway 6? thereof, providing upper and lower counter' facing shoulders 65 and 66. The height of the. annular recesses 62 vary for the different spring caps 6() of the different spring devices H', so that the height of the said annular recesses 62 successively increase from the uppermost spring arrangement H' to the lowermost spring arrangement H', where the height of the annular recess 62 is greatest, as can readily be gained fromFigure-7 of the drawings. This arrangement ot' details is provided, inasmuch as the pawls 56 must seat in the respective spring caps or sleeves 60 provided therefor. To this end the pawls 56 are formed to cooperate with the annular seats 62, and the tooth por` tiens of the pawls 56, illustrated by numeral in Figure 7 of the drawings, vary in length successively, from the uppermost pawl or dog 56, where the tooth portion 7() is least in height to the lowermost pawl or dog 56,- where theitooth 7 O thereof is of greatest length. The

- shoulders 66 in the spring caps 60 are of course beveled upwardly to engage the pointed teeth ends of the pawls 56 when permitted to do so.

The sucker rod-line E' for the form of invention B may be readily withdrawn'from the different spring supporting devices H', inasmuch as the teeth 70 on their upper edges are beveled to slide past the upper shoulders 65, and the pawls are retracted to permit the lifting of the sucker rod lines. As the sticker rod line is being lowered through the tubing and the spring devices H', which are in place in the well, it is quite apparent that the lowermost pawl 56, with its long tooth 70, will pass across the annular recess 62 of the spring cap 60 shown in the left hand portion of Figure 7, inasmuch as thisparticular recess 62 is less in height than the tooth 70 of the pawl 56, and the lowermost pawl 56 cannot enter the recess 62, as is perfectly apparent. In fact, the lowermost pawl 56 can only enter the recess 62 which is specially provided therefor in the lowermost spring arrangement H', as illustrated in the right hand portion of Figure 7 of the drawings.`

As is shown in Figures 8 and l0 of the drawings the external surfaces of the spring caps or heads 60 are vertically to permit passage of the oil or medium being pumped. The pivot pin 57 for each pawl 56 may be supported in a countersunk relation in the special section 33a of the sucker rod line, the same having a head 58a in a counter bore 72 of the portion 33, as shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, and a detachable Cotter pin 7 3 seating in a recess 74 provided therein inwardly of the outer contines of the sucker rod section 33a.

In the form of invention C Ya tubing line K is provided consisting of conventional lengths of tubing 80 connected by special couplings 8l which provide upwardly facing beveled shoulders 82 projecting inwardly of grooved at 7()al the passageways 83 through the tubing sections 80, for a purpose to be subsequently de- A scribed.

It is the purpose of the forms of invention C and D to permit withdrawal of the sucker rod lines, together with the spring` arrangement thereon, which seat on the tubing to distribute the load of the sucker rod line at various places along the .length of the tubing K.

The sucker rod line L of the form of invention C includes the conventional sucker rod sections 85, the lowermostl one of which has the plunger 86 connected therewith, operating in the working barrel 87. At whatever spaced elevations it is desired to distribute a portion of the load of the sucker rod line on the tubing Kit is preferred that the sucker rod sections have a special sucker rod insert length 90 which at its upper end clamps an annular projecting washer 9i, of ringshaped formation, in a rigid location on the ISO at their proximate ends against the spaced lugs 97 arranged in an annular sequence on the exterior of a spring guide sleeve 98 similar to that above described ends of the springs 95 and 96 in a properly guided relation. The upper end of the upper spring 95 seats against the ring-shaped abutment 91, and the lower end of the-lower -sprin 96 rests on the top surface '98 of a slid-v a le ollower or sleeve member 100 which is normally urged by the springs 95 and 96 against the washer 92.

When the sucker rod line L is 'lowered in a pumping operation it is quite apparent that the load thereof will vbe distributed on the tubing K, at various elevations therealong, incident to the fact that the followers 100 will restl on the shoulders 82 of the tubing .couplings 81. As the sucker rod line v,is elevated, either for removal or durin ,a pumping operation, it is apparent that t e springs 95 and 96 of each of the spring arrangements M will force the follower 100 downwardly against its counter facing washerv or ring. a

utment 92 to seat the same thereon.

.It is to be particularl n'oted that for the form of invention C eac of the followers or slidable members 100 are of a decreasing width from the uppermost 'to the lowermost springarrangement M, so that the follower or member 100 of the lowermost spring arrangement M, illustrated in the right and portion of Fi ure 12 of the drawings may readily assthe a utment82 provided for the memers 100 Uf the spring arrangements M thereabove. This permits a ready withdrawal of the entire sucker rod line, together with the l spring arrangements thereon and insures that ,the followers or members 100 will only seat on .the proper shoulders or abutments 82 of the tubing as intended. In order to,permit ready passage of the medium being pumped the ring 91 instead of being annular may have spaced lugs 104 as more particularlyshown in the upper right hand Vportion of Figure 12 of the drawings, and similarly the followers 100 may have a cross sectional appearance such as illustrated in Figure 13, the same being grooved at 105. In the form of invention D, many of the structural features of the fori'nof invention C are present, and in the forms of invent-ion C and D it is to be understood'that like nuor the preferred form l of invention, in order to seat the proximate of. the

merals indicate corresponding parts in both of these forms of invention.

In Athe form of invention D the tubing K is the same as the tubing K of the form of invention C, exce t that the tubing couplings 81a are provided with annular recesses 108 facing in the tubing passageway. The height of these recesses 108 vary from the upper part of the tubing to the lower end thereof, in order to permit a ready passage of the sucker rod line as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the form of invention D the sucker rod line L is the same as the sucker rod line L of the form of invention C, except that in the form of invention D the spring arrangements M have the lower followers or members 100a each provided with diametrically opposed 1 pawls or dogs 110, pivoted on pintles or pins 111 at their upper ends, and the lower poragainst, within the outer confines of the members 100Il to force the teeth ends 113 of t tions thereof having springs 112 acting theres proper recesses 108 of the tubing couplings y 81, during the lowering operation of the tubing.

In order to insure that the proper pawls or dogs 110 will seat at the proper elevation in thev tubing, as the sucker rod line is being lowered, it is intended to vary the length of the pawl teeth or ends 113, so that for the lower spring arrangement M, the said teeth 113 of the pawls 110 are longer than the teeth I pawls 110 of the spring arrangement M thereabove. That'is to say,I the sets M have the pawl teeth 113 successively increasing length from the upper set M towards the. lowermost set M', as is illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings, and this permits the pawls to lock in the proper tubing couplings 81. Of course, the teeth 1 13 are properl beveled o n their upper shoulders to retract into the tubing upon an upward pull on the sucker rod line to release the same.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that practical means has been provided for afliciently supporting the sucker rod line at various points along the tubin in order that the weight thereof -mayy be istributed and prevent the upper joints and connections of the sucker rods from fracturing underl excessive loads. In exemplifying this idea, it Amay be stated siderable boost to the operating mechanism on the -upward lstroke thereof, relieving the pump rod Sectlons of considerable of the I'that if thel rods below one of the spring arv weight and reducing the amount vof elongation in the line of rods.

The general reference herein to pumping line or pumping string is to be construed as including any reciprocatory pumping mechanism, such as rods, cables, and the like. y

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thc scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In pumping equipment a string of tubing, a sucker rod pumping line reciprocable in the tubing, resilient means supporting the sucker rod line upon the tubing and' 'distributing the dead load of ythe sucker rod line on the tubing, said sucker rod line detachably resting on the resilient means and relatively withdrawable therefrom and from the tubing without interference. i

2. In Well pumping equipment a line of tubing, a sucker rod line operable in the tubing, spring means yieldably supporting the sucker rod line in the tubing, said sucker rod line being supported upon the spring means in such relation that the sucker rod line may be completely withdrawn from the tubing Without interference by the tubing. 0

3. In oil well pumping equipment a .string of tubing, a sucker rod line operable in the tubing, spring devices arranged at diierent spaced elevations along the tubing for yieldably supporting the sucker rod line, the suckei` rod line being so structurally related to the spring devices that theJ rod line will detachably engage at a particular -part only along its length with the respective spring devices so as to permit complete withdrawal of the sucker rod string with respect to the tubing, and without interference by the tubinfr.

i. In oil Well pumping equipment of the class described, a string of tubing, spring devices arranged in the tubing at diierent elevations, therealong, a sucker rod line operable in the tubing, and means on the sucker rod line for respectively interengaging in a detachable relation with said spring devices to yieldably distribute the weight of the sucker rod line on the tubing adjacent said spring devices.

5. In well pumping equipment a line. of tubing, a sucker rod string, spring devices arranged at dierent elevations in the tubing and supported by the tubing, and enlargements on the rod string for engagement with said spring devices to yieldably distribute the load of the sucker rod line on the tubing line.

6. In well pumping equipment a line of tubing, a sucker rod string, spring devices arranged at different elevations in the tubing and supported by the tubing, enlargements on the rod string for engagement with said spring devices to lyieldably distribute the load lof the sucker rod line on the tubing line, said spring devices having passageways therethroughpf different sizes for receiving the sucker rod line therethrough, the passageways of the spring devices varying -in size from the upper one in which the passageway is largest to the lower one in which the passageway is smallest, and the sucker rod -line enlargements varying in size from the uppermost where the enlargement is largest to the loWermost where the enlargement is smallest, in such relation that the enlargements of the sucker rod line may engage with respective spring devices provided therefor .and pass freely thru the passageways of all spring devices thereabove to insure complete detachment of the sucker rod line from the tubing and spring devices without interference therewith.

7. In deep Well pumping equipment a line of tubing, a sucker rod line, spring devices arranged at different elevations along the tubing, and means on the sucker rod line at different elevations formed to engage with particular spring devices in a detachable relation to obviate removal of the spring devices when the line is removed.

8. In a spring'support for pumping lines of well equipment the combination of a pair ofvcompressible lspiral springs, and a guide having a sleeve-like body provided with a passageway therethrough and with an annular-like extension externally thereabout between its ends, the ends ot" said sleeve-like body being inserted into the proximate ends of said springs to align said springs longitudinally with the passageway thru said sleeve.

9. In well pumping equipment the combination of a string of tubing, a pumping line reciprocable in said tubing, .upper and lower compression springs, means seating said springs at their adjacent ends in aligning relation, with the pumping string extending thru said springs and thru said means, the lower end of the lower spring having a seatI on the tubing, a member seated on the -upper end of the upper spring for relative movement along the tubin and means on the pumping line detachaby engageable with the member for resilently supporting the pumping line on Said tubing.

10. In well pumping equipment a string of tubing, a sucker rod line operable in the tubing having a piston operating therein, and spring devices supported in the tubing at spaced points therealong releasably receiving the sucker rod line therethrough, the said sucker rod line having means for engaging the spring devices to support the Weight ot the sucker rod line at spaced locations therealong upon said spring devices, the sucker rod line eXinding through all of said spring devices with the piston thereotlying below said spring devices.

' 11. In well pumping equipment the combination of tubing Within an oil Well, a pumpingstring, and means for resiliently supporting the pumping string in yieldable relation at a plurality of spaced points along the tubing belowv the ground surface in such relation that the Weight'of the pumping string is distributed at said plurality of points upon the tubing and insuch relation that the pumping string can be completely withdrawn from the tubing without interference by the tubing. JOHN C. STOKES. 

